Applying for jobs - Hints & Tips only please

cathf

Most jobs come with a Person Specification, or similar, which sets out the knowledge, skills and experience for the role. It is usually split into Essential and Desireable. Make sure you structure your application form around these, giving examples for the essentials first and then the desireables. Don't just say you have experience of something - explain how.

Before interview, go through the Person Specification and job description and think of an example of how you have got, or can do, each thing. Again, you need to explain how you have that knowledge or experience.

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression! Make sure you are on time, dress appropriately ie hair brushed, not too much makeup, shoes polished, ties co-ordinated with shirt etc and clean shoes!

An essential is finding out something about the company - use their website or ring them beforehand and ask if they have any company information you can collect, or that they could send you if it is a distance away. There is no reason nowadays to not know about a company however people still turn up for interview not having done any research.

ledhead214

I'm a recruiter (I can hear the jeers already) so thought I should post my thoughts!

Everyone is very right about interview tips, prepare well, use SOAR or CAR (Context, Action, Result), ask questions, blow your own trumpet etc.

...BUT before you get to the interview, a good CV is imperative. I file through hundreds of these a day, and yours needs to stand out.

Here are some golden rules:

a) Don't make the CV longer than 2 pages. This may differ by sector, but as a general rule, two pages is the max.

b) A strong personal statement is the best tool to grab someone's attention. Don't make it generic like 'I can work well by myself or as part of a team' - apparently everyone can! Try something a bit more adventurous, by saying something like 'I understand that accuracy and meeting deadlines are critical to a project's success, and as such, I strive to align my working attitude to these attributes.' Get a friend to make suggestions and check for you.

c) Your previous/current job is the most relevant (unless it was temp work). Make sure the majority of your CV focuses on this. This should be the first job on your CV, and immediately after your personal statement. Then go backwards in chronology.

d) Bullet point your responsibilities and achievements for each role. An employer doesn't want to have to scroll through lots of prose to get to the information they need.

d) Quantify what you've done. Don't just say 'I increased sales', say 'I increased sales by XX amount in XX period of time.' Even better - say how!

e) Your older roles need very little information. If you're a job hunter with a particular 'gravitas', then your first roles simply need dates, companies and titles.

f) Your education should come after your job history, unless you are a graduate - whereas this is the most important.

g) Remember to document any other skills you may have such as foreign languages or experience within particular information systems etc. Everyone can use Word - so these aren't so important.

h) Finally, don't be scared to add interests. Pick two or three passions of yours (nothing dirty please!!!) and put them in a sentence or couple of lines.

After all this...make sure you spell check, read through, read through, read through and read through again. Make sure all the formatting is standard throughout (keep the font same, keep your headings all underlined etc) and then try reading through again.

You then have your key tool to getting in front of an employer! Now onto the hard bit...

Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions

Good luck!

Errata

Very useful tips from Ledhead. It may have been mentioned before but it's worth repeating. If there's an application form - use it !

GrammarGirl

Spell check everything! Make sure you have the company's name absolutely correct on your covering letter. If you can get hold of a specific name (the person at the company who handles recruitment) use it, but spell it right!

My other tip is to wear clothing that reflects the industry you're applying to work in. I work in the creative segment so would dress smart/casual for an interview, but if you will be in a formal office environment, dress to suit. I would always wear something colourful and eye-catching (a bright scarf, patterned tights, etc) but understand this may not be relevant for corporate jobs.

reheat

I'm in the IT business and have had lots of conflicting advice about the right sort of CV for technical engineering jobs. I then discovered this article and based my CV on it's advice. Been subsequently told by recruiters and an interviewer it's pretty much spot-on. The article is aimed at contract workers, but its advice is just as valuable for those seeking permanent work. Note the phrase "in the bin" that keeps cropping up ... really focuses the mind!

And just think about what he is saying: 200 CVs on his desk, one hour to whittle them down to 10 ... and you must ensure yours is not one of the 190 that end up in the bin! They are going into the bin at the rate of more than three a minute! Which is why the front page is so vital.

PLEASE NOTE: This CV format would not suit a recent graduate, where the lack of work experience necessitates a different approach.

SarahBubbles

My first post on MSE!

I've been job hunting for ages now, and these are the main tips I have picked up:

1. Research, research, research! The company, who they are, what they do, turnover, any info you can get your hands on. If it's a new industry for you, research the industry. Lots of companies want to know you actually know what they do and what they are about. They will probably ask you questions starting along the lines of "Tell us what you know of Company X...". Try not to waffle on, but make a few strong points you've learnt about the company.

2. CV tailoring. Study and memorize the job description you have. As well as linking to point 1 (companies may ask you what you think you'll do in a typical day in the job you've applied for, or ask you if you know what the role entails) if there are any areas in the job description that you know you have skills/knowledge/experience in, make sure you emphasise these in your CV for this particular job. It may be you need to tailor your CV for every job you go for, but it does help make those relevant skills jump out.

3. Follow up. At the end of the interview don't be afraid to ask how you did, if there's anything you can go away and think about, or anything you could improve upon. This lets the interviewers know you are keen on the job, especially as you are asking for feedback so soon. If they say they can't tell you at this stage don't worry, it doesn't hurt to ask. If you applied direct and are corresponding with interviewers by email, send a follow up email a day later, just to keep yourself fresh in their minds. Something along the lines of how well you think the interview did, how you think you would be good at this job etc. Nothing gushy, just reiterating your points made in interview. This may keep you fresh in their minds and again emphasise that you are keen on the job.

4.Practice! Try to research and write down as many questions you can think of that you might be asked in an interview. Then write answers to these, and memorise them. A lot of people get caught out or give generic answers to questions, but if you've really spent the time beforehand pre-empting these questions and tailoring your answers, you'll stand out more. You can google sample interview questions to get you started, then think of if you were an employer, what would you ask yourself? The more questions you can practise at, the better.

I hope these help someone!

greenbee

Lots of good suggestions here.

I recruit regularly for permanent and contract positions (if you recruit good people they end up outgrowing the jog and moving on sadly!), as well as internal secondments and for our graduate scheme, so thought I'd put together some notes that hopefully will be useful.

• General - when applying to a large company, bear in mind that they may have electronic recruitment systems. I'm not impressed when I see someone applying for my roles who has also applied for pretty much every other role within a given salary band. It indicates that they aren't committed to the discipline/role that they are applying to. These systems will also show your previous applications and the stage you got to in the recruitment process, although detailed records are only retained as required by law.
• CV - CVs should be no more than 2 pages unless you're applying for a senior role and have wide and varied experience - if you've had lots of similar jobs, don't elaborate on all of them, just pick out the key responsibilities/accountabilities/achievements. Don't use unusual fonts, 'interesting' formatting or technical terminology/jargon that you don't understand - chances are the recruiting manager will understand it and know that you don't. Spelling, grammar and accuracy are vital - if it's difficult to read it will go in the bin.
• Application forms - make sure you fill in all sections of the form, and use the available word count where appropriate. Again, spelling, grammar and accuracy are important - application forms are unpleasant to read at the best of times, so make it easy for the person who will be looking at it. The same point applies about vocabulary/jargon - make sure you check that you are saying what you think you're saying!
• Telephone interviews - a lot of companies do initial telephone screening. When arranging a time to do it make sure that you will be available (you may be able to schedule it outside normal working hours), that you will be somewhere quiet where you can hear and be heard, and that you will be able to get to the phone... if I call three times and don't get an answer, that's it. If something comes up and you can't make it, call BEFORE the interview time.
• Research - don't waste my time or yours. I expect you to know about the company (hint... we have a website... ) and about the role/discipline you are applying for. Google is your friend. It's also worth googling the recruiting manager's name and their company... you'll be surprised what you can find out about them and how useful this can be. I do expect candidates for roles other than entry-level to know who I am and to have read/seen the material that is publicly available.
• Turning up - arrive promptly, but not too early. A candidate who arrives half an hour early is a problem - I'm not likely to be available, and reception will be calling and leaving messages. If necessary, wait down the road/in the car park and come into reception about 10 minutes before. Make sure you've done the journey before, and have a local spot in mind to stop in if you are early (seeing as you'll be leaving plenty of time in order to make sure you aren't late!)
• Dress/appearance - smart & clean is never wrong! The point about watching the office to see what people wear is a good one. For a large corporate, dress conservatively - dark suit, white shirt/blouse. NOT a white t-shirt for women (gents, sorry, but I'd expect you to wear a tie), you need a shirt with a collar, so you'll have to get the iron out. Shoes, jewellery and makeup should be understated - no one thing should draw attention. Hair should be clean and neat (I was once told that to get ahead you should get a haircut as short hair looked more professional on women - I don't necessarily agree, but if you have long hair, its good to tie it back - smartly, no elastic bands please - so that it is neat, you can't fiddle with it, and it doesn't distract). Trouser suits or below-the-knee skirts for women.
• Interview - as has been mentioned, you are likely to have a comptency-based interview. Remember it's about what you've done, so use 'I' (although do mention in passing if you were working as part of a team). Be creative - you can take a minute to think of an answer, so don't be thrown if you get a question you hadn't anticipated, see if you can tailor any of your existing examples to fit. But don't lie. You'll be found out. And don't use language you don't understand - again, if you use technical terminology wrongly, it won't go down well with a specialist. Have some questions to ask (not just about money/ts & cs) - something about the team makeup/structure, what the goals are for the next 12 months, what the team's major achievements have been over the past 12 months, or what you would be working on for the first three months would be good.
• Assessment centres - these vary hugely, and the other candidates obviously make a difference. Graduates are usually coached for these, but for other people they may be a new and scary experience. Remember, if you get this far, you're doing well. As for interviews, arrive promptly (call as soon as possible if you know you're going to be late - make sure you ask for contact details), dress appropriately. Use any team exercise/discussion to demonstrate your ability to lead, awareness of deadlines, planning skills etc, but also remember not to dominate, to include others, support them (even if you do think their ideas are stupid, be interested, ask them to elaborate, smile etc). Presentations - if you can prepare ahead, then bring hard and soft copy. Don't forget your notes! If it's a prepare on the day job, make sure you have researched the company, it's competitors, it's strategy, and the market it is in. Although you may not have concrete facts and figures to hand, it's useful to know about the US operation or the new office in India, the warehouse that's just been built etc
• Smile! Make people feel positive about you. A firm handshake and a smile start things off on the right track.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck to everyone who is job-hunting.

johydavid

me too have same question

techmax76

Here are some of my tips if you are going to an interview.

Whether the interview is online or personal it is very important that:

You wear a presentable attire.
Be confident of the skills and knowledge you have.
You know the information written in your resume.
You know the company profile that you are applying for.
Always bear in mind that if you are not hired from the job there is a better job that awaits you.
Be optimistic

Emery_Paper

It can be a struggle to find interesting jobs which pay professional rates and fit in with the kids. The newspapers and internet do not have much at all and sometimes the advertised jobs seem to disappear before anyone can apply. The most success I have ever had is to get the yellow pages and ring up all the companies I though I might want to work for. The last time I did this I got 3 interviews in my local town for a professional marketing job, school hours and decent money.

I think I will need to repeat this process shortly as I think I will be made redundant in the next month or so. But I've had 3 good years, so at least I have had a good run.

Let's hope my method works again... (slightly scared about the future...)